FRANK TALK: Do you a) hate, b) like polls?

Thursday

May 8, 2014 at 12:18 PMMay 8, 2014 at 12:26 PM

Never before have polls been so prevalent in our daily lives. It seems impossible to engage in any online activity without being asked your favorite political candidate, pizza topping or product placement in Adam Sandler's latest film.

Is this polling obsession positive:

· Yes, obsessive behavior is always good for people

· No, there are some things man was not meant to know (like what was up with the Kmart scene in “Grown Ups 2”)

· Maybe, it's hard to say without poll numbers to back up my opinion

Frank Mulligan

Never before have polls been so prevalent in our daily lives. It seems impossible to engage in any online activity without being asked your favorite political candidate, pizza topping or product placement in Adam Sandler’s latest film.

Is this polling obsession positive:

· Yes, obsessive behavior is always good for people

· No, there are some things man was not meant to know (like what was up with the Kmart scene in “Grown Ups 2”)

· Maybe, it’s hard to say without poll numbers to back up my opinion

Well, perhaps this compilation of poll prototypes will help you decide! Do you think that’s possible:

· Yeah, right

· Sure, whatever

· No, my mind is closed on virtually every subject

So here goes (This poll column’s margin of error is 4.7 – I don’t know what that means).

Are polls:

· stupid

· annoying

· stupid and annoying

· a vital representation of public opinion

Do you think most polls were devised:

· to enlighten

· to put modern existence into perspective

· to glean important insights into the human psyche

· to cynically mine multiple responses that are in themselves worthless

Do you find that the most important poll topics deal with:

· politics

· culture

· sports

· favorite cartoon mice

Should more polling be done:

· Please, no – I’m begging you

· Is that even possible?

· Should more oral surgery be performed without anesthetic?

· Yes, of course. Every aspect of life should be reduced to a poll, don’t you think? (· Yes, I think every aspect of life should be reduced to a poll; · No, I don’t think every aspect of life should be reduced to a poll; · I’m not sure. I’m not done with the other polls yet)

What other field could benefit from polling versus actual, fact-based knowledge:

· medicine

· rocket science

· mathematics

· TV talent-show hosting

If medicine were more poll-based, would you like to be diagnosed based on:

· what most people think

· the funniest sounding illnesses

· the top 10 favorite mishaps resulting in injury

· the 5 best movie maladies in a musical comedy

Do you put more stock in poll results or:

· fortune cookies

· tea leaves

· Magic eight ball responses

· rock, paper, scissors results

Do you think this column’s writer is being:

· a dope

· a wisenheimer

· a dope and a wisenheimer

· a clear-thinking sage

Wareham Courier Editor Frank Mulligan can be reached at fmulligan@wickedlocal.com.